Axios: Trump backs MAHA “shocking” Oval Office fight

Trump backs MAHA in “shocking” Oval Office fight
 
Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Tensions over pesticide use erupted in a heated Oval Office meeting last week, Axios’ Alex Isenstadt scoops.

The confrontation exposed a sharp fault line in Trump’s coalition: the push by RFK’s MAHA movement to reduce conventional pesticides vs. farming interests determined to preserve them.

🥊 The long-running fight came to a head during a tense Oval Office meeting last Thursday.

Trump, HHS Secretary RFK Jr., Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall met to discuss a pesticide-focused executive order.

🧑‍⚖️ Kennedy’s team was already on edge over a Supreme Court ruling earlier that day that handed the pesticide industry a major legal win.

Kennedy told Trump that his order to cut pesticides in the food supply and study their effects would help offset it, according to three people familiar with the meeting.

🧑‍🌾 Duvall, whose organization represents more than 5 million farming and ranching members, was adamant that Trump not sign the order — warning that doing so could cost him the support of farming interests.

Jonathan Lundgren, a South Dakota farmer and former USDA official who attended the meeting, tells Axios that Duvall’s decision to forcefully confront Trump was “shocking,” and that the president appeared concerned and “wanted to understand why Zippy was so worried.”

😡 Trump had been expected to sign the order that afternoon. Suddenly, that wasn’t so certain. What followed was a clash between Kennedy’s team and Duvall, according to three people familiar with the fight.

The most heated exchange took place between Duvall and Kennedy deputy Calley Means, who told Duvall that it was clear that he hadn’t read Trump’s order.

Trump eventually signed the order. Duvall then said he’d support it.

Mike Tomko, an American Farm Bureau Federation spokesman, disputed the idea that Duvall was against exploring pesticide alternatives. Tomko said Duvall’s concerns centered on the “insinuation that our food supply is not safe.”
Unknown's avatar

About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a comment